Herbert Smith Freehills LLP Paris has advised Arkema, France's leading chemicals producer and a rising force in the global chemicals market, on the implementation of a Euro Medium Term Notes (EMTN) programme worth €2 billion, registered with the French market authority, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF).

Arkema's decision to issue an EMTN programme, with help from Natixis (the arranger), is part of the group's strategy to diversify its sources of financing and extend their maturity and to attain a position from which it can exploit good market conditions to its greater advantage.

The operation was managed within the Arkema legal department by Raphaëlle de Pontevès, Head of Corporate.

A team from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP Paris, led by Louis de Longeaux (partner) and Manaf Triqui (associate), advised Arkema.

Véronique Delaittre, Pierre-André Destrée and Olivia Giesecke from Linklaters assisted Natixis.

Louis de Longeaux commented:

"This operation was an occasion for us to show what we can do for issuers in the debt capital markets. We are delighted to have had this opportunity to work with Arkema's team to issue this programme and that the group is now able to carry out market transactions more frequently and in line with its requirements."